Grey is one of the most popular colours in interior design right now, and – if you choose your colours carefully – it certainly doesn’t have to be synonymous with a dark and heavy colour palette. Try out some gorgeous grey shades on solid oak kitchen cabinets to discover a look of sheer refinement. Grey is a versatile shade that comes in many guises, and this month we are taking a closer look at our three favourites:

Our first ‘Colour of the Month’ is Mole’s Breath from Farrow & Ball. This strong grey is ideally paired with gentler shades like Pavilion Gray or Cornforth White. Add warmth to the moodiness of Mole’s Breath by using it alongside Elephant’s Breath, which is noted for its magenta undertones. For a more formal look, feature accents of Parma Gray in your kitchen. A little overpowering if used to excess, Mole’s Breathe is an excellent choice if you wish to make a focal point of your kitchen island units. Partner this sumptuous shade with bright whites like Farrow & Ball’s Wevet and supplement with vibrant accessories in red or orange, for a stylish and contemporary look.

Image courtesy of Enigma Design

Image courtesy of L&H

Rather more neutral in hue than Mole’s Breath, Ammonite is a shade that is close to the heart of our favourite paint manufacturers. Farrow & Ball was founded in Dorset in1946 – where they still operate today – and this gentle shade takes its named from the precious fossils often discovered along the Dorset coast. To enhance the colour with a sense of depth, team Ammonite with modern and warm Strong White, which will complement it beautifully. With a delicate, natural look – reminiscent of the fossils that inspired it – Ammonite is an excellent colour choice for our solid oak kitchen doors. When finishing cabinet frontals, we carefully brush the wood with paint in such a way as to reveal the beautiful grain structure beneath; this method is ideal for Ammonite, emphasising its delicate, natural qualities.

Our final ‘Colour of the Month’ this August is Lamp Room Gray. Whilst the first two shades from Farrow & Ball are better suited to more modern kitchens, this soft grey has a timeless quality that makes it perfect for homes with a traditional feel. Though rather a cold grey, Lamp Room Gray can be complemented with cosier colour like Joa’s White, or paired with French Gray or Pigeon to emphasise green undertones and create an elegant yet organic look.

If you would like to order a cabinet door sample painted in any of these beautiful hues, our sample service offers small replica oak doors in a finish of your choice. Door samples cost just £20, and this cost can be refunded when you place an order with Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets.

It’s nearly that time of the year again: a time when our eyes become glued to our television screens as Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood commend, critique, and criticise a delightful array of incredible baked creations! Fans of our stunning oak kitchens may remember our #BrilliantBakeOffer competition from previous years – such was the success of this competition that we have decided to bring it back for the third year running.

To celebrate the return of the Great British Bake Off we are offering competition entrants the chance to win £500 worth of kitchen kit. This enviable prize includes an iconic Kenwood kMix mixer and many other essential accessories, including items from Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood’s very own baking ranges.

Our #BrilliantBakeOffer competition starts today and closes at 23:59 on Monday 31st October, after which one lucky winner will be selected at random.

We would love to know how you are preparing for the upcoming series – and what you might be baking in your solid wood kitchen – so please do share your pictures with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

The Handpresso Pump is the portable espresso machine that coffee lovers and avid walkers have been waiting for! Not only can this espresso-maker be used in solid oak kitchens, but it is also ideal for use on the move, meaning that – wherever your travels may take you – you can conjure up a fresh cup of coffee in minutes.

It is easy to see why this handy gadget claimed the prestigious title of ‘Gadget of the Month’ this August. Compact and portable, you can carry this espresso maker wherever you go. The Handpresso Pump is compatible with the brand’s own E.S.E. coffee pods, and can also be used with your own favourite ground coffee. Simply add hot water from a kettle or Thermos flask and this pocket-sized contraption will create 16-bar pressure to produce a fresh shot of high-quality coffee.

As well as classic black and silver colour variations, the ‘Pop’ collection of Handpresso Pumps offers eye-catching pink, green or blue options. These versatile gadgets are a must for any holiday and are lightweight and affordable; alternatively, if you decide to keep yours for home use, the Handpresso Pump has modest proportions so it can be stored easily within your oak kitchen cupboards (thereby reducing clutter on your solid wood worktops).

If you already have a handy, portable espresso maker – or any other useful kitchen tool worthy of the ‘Gadget of the Month’ accolade – please feel free to share your pictures with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Our latest competition runs in partnership with Real Homes magazine, and offers you the chance to transform your home with stylish new kitchen components from Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets.

Our fantastic collection of wooden kitchen cabinets, oak doors and work surfaces are perfect for creating the kitchen update you’ve been craving. By selecting each individual component you can design a kitchen layout that is completely tailored to your home and lifestyle. Whichever look you desire, we can help you achieve it!

First choose between frontals in a modern Shaker style or our charming Traditional option; next, pick the finish of your choice. As well as the rustic look of our lacquered finish, which showcases the stunning natural grain pattern beneath, we also offer a painted finish that allows you to pick any shade from our paint manufacturers of choice, Farrow & Ball. We also offer open-fronted cabinet styles, which you can mix and match to create a solid wood kitchen that is totally unique. One lucky winner will receive £5,000 to spend on any units and worktops they like!

How do I enter?

To be in with a chance of winning this brilliant prize, simply text ‘RHMAG KITCHEN’ followed by your name, house number and postcode to 64343. Alternatively, enter online at www.realhomes.co.uk/.

When is the closing date?

All entries must be received by 23:59 on Friday 2nd September, so send them in quickly!

Please feel free to explore our website to discover our full range of frontals, cabinets and wooden worktops. Don’t forget to contact us if you have any queries about our wide range of stunning and unique kitchen components.

Please note: this fantastic competition is open to UK mainland residents only and must be claimed within six months. The cost of delivery is not included (unless paid for out of the prize value). Texts cost £1 plus your standard network rate.

August has arrived and – if recent sunny spells are anything to go by – summer is officially here! If you are purchasing solid oak kitchen cabinets this month, the warm weather may have inspired you to opt for frontals painted in shades of a similar ilk: light and fresh. If this is the case, we invite you to abandon your ice lollies and sunglasses for five minutes, and take a look at this splendid palette of shades for summer:

These beautiful paint colours from Farrow & Ball look excellent when featured alongside one another or when used individually. The first of our magnificent ‘Colours of the Month’ for August is Oval Room Blue. This colour has lots of depth and falls somewhere between a mid-blue and mysterious sea green. Oval Room Blue is at its best when paired with bright whites such as All White, or softer variations like Slipper Satin. When used on our oak cabinet frontals, this shade is ideally paired with solid oak worktops.

Inspired by the delicate fabric used to make traditional ballet pumps, Farrow & Ball’s Slipper Satin is the prettiest of off-whites. This versatile shade can be teamed with a wide range of bright colours, softening their appearance and creating a look that is immensely elegant. If you would prefer to use Slipper Satin as the principal colour in your oak kitchen, partner it with dark worktops such as Black American walnut or wenge for an eye-catching, high-contrast effect.

Our third and final ‘Colour of the Month’ is Mizzle. This is one of our most popular paint finishes for cabinet frontals – and it’s not a surprise! Mizzle is a pale green shade that is perfect for woodwork, and – unlike other similar shades – it is free from cold blue tones, creating an appealing and inviting feel. A beautifully modest hue, Mizzle is a stunning complement to Oval Room Blue, which gives it a pared back look. Alternatively, to use this shade as an accent colour, pair it with Slipper Satin: Mizzle’s green tones will be invigorated by Slipper Satin’s pale pink hues, producing a real pop of colour. This adaptable shade looks fantastic alongside a wide variety of timber worktops, from delicately pale ash to charming Deluxe Walnut.

If you are feeling inspired and would like to order a solid oak cabinet frontal sample in any of these shades – or any other colour from Farrow & Ball – please feel free to contact us to place your order. These miniature replica cabinet doors are just £20 and the cost can be deducted from a future order.

If you already own a kitchen painted in one of our beautiful ‘Colours of the Month’, we would love you to share some photographs with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.